And benjamin



E. J. FROST & BQM I DDLEDITOH DEVICE FOR REGULATING QUALITY OF GAS- I170. 577,739.

Patented Feb. 23; 1897.

(No Model.)

INVENTORS 2.. but Mg.

WITNESSES .0m, GLM,

Nrrnn STATES PATENT FFTQEQ EDWARD J. FROST, or PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA, AND BENJAMIN MIDDLEDITOH, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORSTO JOSEPH n. BERRY, or D T ornMIorneAN;

DEVICE FOR REGULATING QUALITY OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 577,739, dated February23,1897. Application filed June s, 1895. semi No. 552,643. (No model.)

T0 at whom it mayoral 1.067%.-

- Be it known that we, EDWARD J. FROST, of Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylvania, and B NJAMINMIDDLEDITOH, of Detroit, in the State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Automatically Regulating the Quality of Gas, and especially thatknown as air-gas or carbureted air, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had .to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is anend view of the lever and counterbalance, and Fig. 3 a View in perspective of the outer end of the lever and counterbalance.

It is Well known that air-currents charged with hydrocarbon vapors ofgasolene from carbureters and designed for illuminating purposes varyfrom time to time in the degree of saturation, thus causingcorresponding variations in the illuminating power of the gas, and mostof the time there is an oversaturation, thus causing smoke in theburning of the gas, with diminished candle-power and the giving out ofunpleasant odors.

It is known that the gravity or weight of the gas varies with the degreeof its saturation by the vapors of gasolene and that these vapors can bemixed in proper proportions with air and a uniform gas can be producedof unvarying candle-power.

Taking advantage of the above facts, the object of our invention is theproduction of a machine simple in construction and reliable in actionwhereby to automatically effect such regulation in the proportion of airand gas as to secure the best possible results from such mixture.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a cylinder or mixing-chamberhaving the extension 2.

3 is a sealed float, preferably of cylindrical form, connected with oneend of a lever 6, the mode shown in the drawings being a 1ug7 on float3, pivoted to the lever 6.

A central passage-Way 4 may be formed through the float 3 to receiveavalve-stem 5, one end of which is connected with the lever 6 throughlug 7, the other endbeing connected jvalve-stem connected with the floatorwith the lever in any other Way.

The lever 6 is fulcrumed at 8 and is. provided with a bifurcatedcounterbalance 9,

which is supported by pivot 10, resting on bearings in traveling block11, which in turn is supported on the outer end of the lever. 12 is anupward projection or lug on lever 6, forming a bearing for screw 13, forthe adj ustment of counterbalance 9. 14 is the casing containing thevalve-seat 15, on which the valve 16 rests when closed. 17 is theair-inlet, through which air is supplied at a pressure equal to orgreater than the pressure of the incoming gas, and 18 is the gas-inlet,and the arrows designate the passage of the gas around thedeflecting-plate l9 and float 3. Therod 5 isconnected at top by aswiveljoint to the lug 7 and at the bottom with the valve 16 withsimilar attachment. 20 is also a deflecting-plate and is attached tocover 21. 22 is the gas-outlet leading to the burners. 23 represents arod having a bearing in the wall of extension 2 and adapted to haveinward longitudinal and also axial movement, and has on its inner end asocket to engage with screw 13 to adjust the position of counterbalance9. A spiral spring 24 on the stem of rod 23 retracts same when pressureis released from said rod.

The operation of our device is as follows: The float and thecounterweight are so initially adjusted relative to each other as thatthe valve 16, controlling the air inlet, is closed and remains closedwhen vapor of just the desired richness (or less) is passing from thecarburetor into the gas inlet 18 and through the cylinder 1 to theburners. As soon, however, as the vapor-current becomes too highlycharged or saturated the increase of its density so resulting lifts thefloat 3 and with it the air-inlet valve, at same time correspondinglydepressing the counterweight 9. This admits air to the mixing chamberthrough inlet 17 and valve 16 to dilute the vapor in said chamber, and(when gas is be ing drawn from the miXing-chamber)the float varies theposition of valve 16 in accordancewith the amount of air required fromtime to time, thus keeping the vapor within the mixing-chamber atpractically a constant density and insuring gas of even and regularquality. Sudden variations in the number of lights supplied from then1ixing-chamber may cause the fioat to open the valve wide or to closethe air-valve entirely; but ordinarily when the apparatus is in use theadmission of air is continuous, but regulated, until the gasolene in thecarburetor becomes nearly exhausted of its lighter constituents.

By the use of our invention the quality of gas supplied to the burnersis practically uniform from the time the carbureter is charged withfresh gasolene down to the time when the gasoleneis exhausted instead ofbeing rich, heavy, and smoky at first and afterward poor, light, anddeficient in illuminating power, as usual.

It will beobserved that the counterweight on the outer end of the leveris movable longitudinally and can be readily and accurately adjusted byremoving the cap 25, pushing inwardly the rod 23 until the socket on theinner end of same engages with threaded rod 13, and then turning rod 23to the right or left, as required, to effect the desired adjustment.

Should it be desired to vary the standard or quality of the gas to beemployed at the burners at any time, any desired adjustment as betweenthe counterweight and the float can be effected in the manner described.

Our invention is equally applicable to the regulation of the supply ofgasolene from a gasolene-tank to the carbureter, the valve in such case,as 16, beingplaced intermediate between the gasolene-tank and thecarbureter, and its opening and closing being consequently effected bythe varying density of the gas in the mixing-chamber and thecorresponding rise and fall of the float.

It will be observed that the counterweight on the outer end of the leveris movable 1ongitudinally and can be readily and accurately adjusted byremovingthe cap 25, pushing inwardly the rod 23 until the socket on theinner end of same engages with threaded rod 13, and then turning rod 23to the right or left, as required, to effect the desired adj ustment.

Should it be desired to vary the standard or quality of the gas to beemployed at the burners at any time, any desired adjustment as betweenthe counterweight and the float can be effected in the manner described.

Our invention is equally applicable to the regulation of the supply ofgasolene from a gasolene-tank to the carbureter, the valve in such case,as 16, being placed intermediate between the gasolene-tank and thecarburetor, and its opening and closing being consequently effected bythe varying density of the gas-in the mixing-chamber and thecorresponding rise and fall of the float.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isl 1. The combination with a mixing-chamberhaving a gas-inlet port and a gas-eduction' port, of a lever pivoted insaid chamber having said chamber, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

2. In devices for regulating the quality of gas, the combination of amixing-chamber provided with an inlet-port leading from a gas-producer,an air-inlet port leading from an airblast, and an eduction-p0rt leadingto the burners, of air-inlet valve 1 6 and-counterbalanced float 3 soconnected to'each other that the amount of opening of sai'dvalve isautomatically regulated by the density of the gas admitted to saidmixing-chamber,substantially as described.

3. The combination with mixing-chamber 1 provided withinduction-portsfor the admission of gas and air, respectively, and withan eduction or delivery port, and an extension 2, of float 3,passage-way 4t, therethrough,val'vestem 5 balance lever 6,counterbalance 9, valve 16, and an adjusting device connected with saidlever whereby the adjustment of said counterbalance can be effected andthe admission of air to said chamber be automatically regulated by thedensity of the gas admitted to said chamber, substantially as described.

4. The combination with mixing-chamber 1, provided with induction andeduction ports, of float 3, having passage-Way at, therethrough, lever6, provided with lug, or projection 12, counterbalance 9,traveling block1l,threaded rod 13, valve-stem 5, connected at its upper end to lever'6,and at its lower end to valve 16, and means, as rod 23, for effectingthe longitudinal movement of said counterbalance, substantially asdescribed.

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names, in thepresence of two witnesses, on this 1st day of June, A. D. 1895.

EDWVARD J. FROST. BENJAMIN MIDDLEDITCl-I. \Vitnesses as to Edward JFrost:

A. B. SHOEMAKER, O. F. GUMMEY, Jr. Witnesses as to Benjamin Middleditch:

A. H. WILKINsoN, R. B. WILKINSON.

